England sustained their hopes of retaining the World Twenty20 title with a six-wicket win over New Zealand in Pallekele. Luke Wright, who made 99 against Afghanistan in the group stages, struck 76 from 43 balls to take them to victory with seven deliveries remaining.

While England may still need to win their final Super Eights game against Sri Lanka on Monday, they could have been eliminated on Saturday had results gone against them. By contrast, a second successive defeat for New Zealand leaves them requiring a win in their final game and a series of results elsewhere to go their way if they are to progress. For England, at least, their fate is in their own hands.

England were on top for most of this match. While a late innings assault from James Franklin provided New Zealand with a defendable total, they never fully recovered from the impact of Steven Finn's excellent early spell and some miserly bowling from Graeme Swann.

In reply England's opening partnership again failed to shine, but a stand of 89 in 10 overs between Wright and Eoin Morgan took them to the brink of victory.

Wright, in particular, was impressive. Having given himself some time to become accustomed to the pitch - it took him four deliveries to score a run - he put away the loose ball nicely before accelerating decisively having reached 25. From then on he attacked, hitting the ball straight and cleanly and, at one stage, hitting four sixes in seven deliveries. In all he struck five sixes and five fours.

England were grateful for his contribution. While England survived the first over of their innings without losing a wicket for the first time in the tournament, Craig Kieswetter was unable to rotate the strike and, by the time he was bowled missing a sweep, had occupied 14 balls for his four runs.

Alex Hales, who hit three boundaries in the second over, the first of them a beautifully timed back foot drive through cover, looked in better touch but when he advanced down the pitch and missed a straight one, it left England precariously placed at 38 for 2 in the seventh over.

Morgan and Wright proceeded with caution initially, not striking their first boundary until 18 balls into their partnership. But that calm approach began to reap rewards as Wright slogged Nathan McCullum for six before, in the next over, Morgan hit a low full toss from Franklin over long-on for another and then cut a wide ball for four.

England contented themselves with ones and twos for the next couple of overs as the spinners maintained control but, when Tim Southee came back into the attack, Wright drove him for a six back over his head before planting another one far over wide long-on.

From then on, England were barely challenged. Wright slog-swept and then drove Rob Nicol for two more sixes and drove Kyle Mills for successive fours in the next over. Morgan was caught at long-on and Doug Bracewell, introduced into the attack in the 19th over and playing instead of the unwell Jacob Oram, had Wright caught at cover, but by then only seven were required and, when Jonny Bairstow pulled his first delivery for four there was never going to be any late nerves.

A late charge from Franklin helped New Zealand recover from a poor start having won first use of the pitch as 68 runs came from the last six overs. England's bowlers looked to have taken a firm grip on the game after Finn, bowling with excellent pace and control, claimed the best figures by an England bowler in World T20 cricket and England's spinners enjoyed the assistance provided by an unusually dry pitch.

It was Danny Briggs, preferred to Samit Patel and playing just his second T20I, who delivered the first over - conceding just six - but Finn made the early breakthroughs. Martin Guptill was trapped in front as he attempted to play across a decidedly brisk full ball, before Brendon McCullum, who had twice skipped down the pitch in Briggs' second over to drive him for fours, was caught at third man as he edged an attempted drive over extra-cover off Finn.

Graeme Swann, brought into the attack for the seventh over, increased the pressure by conceding only three runs and taking the wicket of Nicol who was caught slog-sweeping.

New Zealand only managed two boundaries from the end of the Powerplay to the end of the 14th over and could muster just 41 runs in those eight overs. Had Morgan produced a better throw, Williamson would have been run out for 16 as he responded to a sharp call for s single from Taylor.

It hardly mattered, though. The return of Briggs in the 12th over saw Williamson fall, caught behind as he edged an attempted cut and, at the end of the 14th over, New Zealand were struggling.

Franklin signalled the acceleration in the 15th over. He hit the first six of the innings - launching Briggs over midwicket - and followed it up with a straight drive back past the bowler that went for four. While England's spinners conceded just 40 runs from their first seven overs, Briggs' figures were damaged by his final over costing 16.

Finn, returning for the 17th over, claimed his third wicket when Taylor mistimed a slog top midwicket to finish with his best T20 figures of 3 for 16. Franklin could feel somewhat hard done by, however, as he drove Finn through extra-cover to the boundary only to see the umpire call dead-ball as Finn had dislodged the bails in his delivery stride.

Nathan McCullum sustained the momentum by striking Broad for two sixes in the penultimate over of the innings and Broad contributed to his own problems by over-stepping and donating not just a free-hit but an extra delivery with the seventh ball going for six. But in the end it was to prove too little, too late for New Zealand.

just think all you england supporters walking down the streets of cities, towns and villages or even hamlets. the guy walking next to you could be the one and only randyoz. i think i will emigrate .

bumsonseats
on October 1, 2012, 10:15 GMT

great randy then our game is in good hands with your balanced observations of cricket in our winter. you can tell us when you travel the county grounds on what the groundsmen or curators as you lot like to call them are doing with the pitch areas. mind you will not be able to gain entry till middle of april.

A_Vacant_Slip
on October 1, 2012, 8:05 GMT

@RandyOZ on (September 30 2012, 18:38 PM GMT). All the kid cricket pack up in UK at the end of August. So plainly you have seen no cricket. Immigration screwed up when they let you in. Anyway - you wouldn't know good cricket if it came up and hit you on the head - like that Boxing Test test that time. remember?

RandyOZ
on September 30, 2012, 18:38 GMT

Now that im living in England, it is clear to see why they are so bad. The kids just slog across the line. Its absolutely no shock Aussies and Saffers fill the county sides.

JG2704
on September 30, 2012, 10:46 GMT

@Oldsedcopian on (September 30 2012, 08:33 AM GMT) Sure , it is - but at the end of the day it is Finn who is hitting the stumps and the batting side who gets punished if they hit runs off him. I think the law should be changed but if Finn's deliveries (when he hits the stumps) go for runs then all you are doing is punishing the batting side for Finn's indiscipline.

JG2704
on September 30, 2012, 9:10 GMT

Re Craig , I think they'll stick with him but I don't think they should. Eng seem to loath dropping out of form players. To me it's as if once they are dropped they can't bring them back. The same happened in the tests in our disastrous winter tours. My team for the next game would be Lumb,Hales,Wright,Morgan,Buttler(wk) , Bairstow, Patel or Bres , Swann , Broad , Finn , Briggs . @LilAnzac on (September 29 2012, 14:36 PM GMT) I think Jonny can keep ok. As a Somerset fan when I've seen Buttler keep wicket he has looked as good - if not more consistent than Craig although there is the pressure element.

JG2704
on September 30, 2012, 9:03 GMT

@pat_one_back (, 13:39 PM GMT) Your guys I believe can still qualify and possibly have as good a chance as England , even at this stage. If you beat WI - esp by a fair margin - I'd even go as far as to say you'd be favourites to qualify as I think that would mean that England would have to beat SL which I feel is a 30/70 game in SLs favour - possibly more if they play like they did yesterday and we field and bat like we have throughout the tournament. Obviously I'll be hoping we beat SL but I'll be cheering on NZ on 2 fronts - 1- because it would keep our hopes alive and 2 - because if we don't qualify I'd much prefer NZ over WI to qualify. I also think it's good that the NZ/WI match is 1st up as it means that NZ will play with belief that they can still qualify. Had they played 2nd and Eng pulled off the surprise win vs SL it may deflate them for the WI match

dummy4fb
on September 30, 2012, 8:53 GMT

I'm sure I wasn't alone in breathing a huge sigh of relief as soon as I saw Bresnan's name on the team sheet in place of Dernbach's. Hopefully it'll remain that way for as long as England survive in this tournament. As I've been saying for quite a while now, Kieswetter is a busted flush as opener. Even taking into account his previous success in the role, his overall SR remains a shockingly poor sub-110, nowhere near the stats expected of a T20 opener. The problem is not that he's a poor batsman (he averaged over 60 for Somerset in first-class cricket last season), it's that he appears to believe (or, perhaps, has been told) that his role at the top of the order has changed from pinch-hitter to anchor. Others have said that the obvious solution would be to move Wright up to open, but he's been so outstanding at No. 3 that I think it'd be a mistake to move him. Far better to either straight-swap Kieswetter & Buttler or to hand the gloves to Bairstow & bring in Lumb to open with Hales.

JG2704
on September 30, 2012, 8:49 GMT

@Nutcutlet on (September 29 2012, 14:02 PM GMT) No , I agree with that. I'm wondering if they can base it all on the umpires discretion. The one thing your post does not consider is if the ball in a T20/ODI is a dot. Imagine a scenario where a team requires 24 off the last 2 overs and Finn's first delivery (where he hits the stumps) is either a dot or a single - if the batsman feels genuinely put off by the hitting of the wicket then a dot or even a single is going to hinder the batsman/team in their chase. Just wondering if the umpire could not even consult with the batsman as to whether he wants it to be a dead ball or not?

JG2704
on September 30, 2012, 8:48 GMT

@K2C1 on (September 29 2012, 19:50 PM GMT)/ Rogerunionjack on (September 29 2012, 13:29 PM GMT) - Let's not get carried away here. The odds are still very much against England. 1st we have to beat SL which is a huge ask and then also depend on the NZ/WI result.

bumsonseats
on October 1, 2012, 14:14 GMT

just think all you england supporters walking down the streets of cities, towns and villages or even hamlets. the guy walking next to you could be the one and only randyoz. i think i will emigrate .

bumsonseats
on October 1, 2012, 10:15 GMT

great randy then our game is in good hands with your balanced observations of cricket in our winter. you can tell us when you travel the county grounds on what the groundsmen or curators as you lot like to call them are doing with the pitch areas. mind you will not be able to gain entry till middle of april.

A_Vacant_Slip
on October 1, 2012, 8:05 GMT

@RandyOZ on (September 30 2012, 18:38 PM GMT). All the kid cricket pack up in UK at the end of August. So plainly you have seen no cricket. Immigration screwed up when they let you in. Anyway - you wouldn't know good cricket if it came up and hit you on the head - like that Boxing Test test that time. remember?

RandyOZ
on September 30, 2012, 18:38 GMT

Now that im living in England, it is clear to see why they are so bad. The kids just slog across the line. Its absolutely no shock Aussies and Saffers fill the county sides.

JG2704
on September 30, 2012, 10:46 GMT

@Oldsedcopian on (September 30 2012, 08:33 AM GMT) Sure , it is - but at the end of the day it is Finn who is hitting the stumps and the batting side who gets punished if they hit runs off him. I think the law should be changed but if Finn's deliveries (when he hits the stumps) go for runs then all you are doing is punishing the batting side for Finn's indiscipline.

JG2704
on September 30, 2012, 9:10 GMT

Re Craig , I think they'll stick with him but I don't think they should. Eng seem to loath dropping out of form players. To me it's as if once they are dropped they can't bring them back. The same happened in the tests in our disastrous winter tours. My team for the next game would be Lumb,Hales,Wright,Morgan,Buttler(wk) , Bairstow, Patel or Bres , Swann , Broad , Finn , Briggs . @LilAnzac on (September 29 2012, 14:36 PM GMT) I think Jonny can keep ok. As a Somerset fan when I've seen Buttler keep wicket he has looked as good - if not more consistent than Craig although there is the pressure element.

JG2704
on September 30, 2012, 9:03 GMT

@pat_one_back (, 13:39 PM GMT) Your guys I believe can still qualify and possibly have as good a chance as England , even at this stage. If you beat WI - esp by a fair margin - I'd even go as far as to say you'd be favourites to qualify as I think that would mean that England would have to beat SL which I feel is a 30/70 game in SLs favour - possibly more if they play like they did yesterday and we field and bat like we have throughout the tournament. Obviously I'll be hoping we beat SL but I'll be cheering on NZ on 2 fronts - 1- because it would keep our hopes alive and 2 - because if we don't qualify I'd much prefer NZ over WI to qualify. I also think it's good that the NZ/WI match is 1st up as it means that NZ will play with belief that they can still qualify. Had they played 2nd and Eng pulled off the surprise win vs SL it may deflate them for the WI match

dummy4fb
on September 30, 2012, 8:53 GMT

I'm sure I wasn't alone in breathing a huge sigh of relief as soon as I saw Bresnan's name on the team sheet in place of Dernbach's. Hopefully it'll remain that way for as long as England survive in this tournament. As I've been saying for quite a while now, Kieswetter is a busted flush as opener. Even taking into account his previous success in the role, his overall SR remains a shockingly poor sub-110, nowhere near the stats expected of a T20 opener. The problem is not that he's a poor batsman (he averaged over 60 for Somerset in first-class cricket last season), it's that he appears to believe (or, perhaps, has been told) that his role at the top of the order has changed from pinch-hitter to anchor. Others have said that the obvious solution would be to move Wright up to open, but he's been so outstanding at No. 3 that I think it'd be a mistake to move him. Far better to either straight-swap Kieswetter & Buttler or to hand the gloves to Bairstow & bring in Lumb to open with Hales.

JG2704
on September 30, 2012, 8:49 GMT

@Nutcutlet on (September 29 2012, 14:02 PM GMT) No , I agree with that. I'm wondering if they can base it all on the umpires discretion. The one thing your post does not consider is if the ball in a T20/ODI is a dot. Imagine a scenario where a team requires 24 off the last 2 overs and Finn's first delivery (where he hits the stumps) is either a dot or a single - if the batsman feels genuinely put off by the hitting of the wicket then a dot or even a single is going to hinder the batsman/team in their chase. Just wondering if the umpire could not even consult with the batsman as to whether he wants it to be a dead ball or not?

JG2704
on September 30, 2012, 8:48 GMT

@K2C1 on (September 29 2012, 19:50 PM GMT)/ Rogerunionjack on (September 29 2012, 13:29 PM GMT) - Let's not get carried away here. The odds are still very much against England. 1st we have to beat SL which is a huge ask and then also depend on the NZ/WI result.

Oldsedcopian
on September 30, 2012, 8:33 GMT

Re JG2704 on (September 29 2012, 21:08 PM GMT), that's a bit of a "Heads I win, tails you lose" concept and puts enormous, and unfair, pressure on the umpires. I think that there must be simplicity and transparency in the Laws for them to allow the umpires to rule without any partiality. Either the Law is changed to declarethe ball delivered by a bowler who hits the stumps in his delivery as an additional kind of extra (it isn't a wide or a no-ball undedr current definitions) or it remains as it is: a dead ball, just as it would be if the batsman pulled away and signalled unreadiness but too late for the bowler to halt his delivery action.

Akshita29
on September 30, 2012, 8:28 GMT

I don't understand the logic behind keeping Kane Williamson in side with BJ Watling sitting in the bench who did well in the ODIs in West INDIES .As for England they have a very good chance of making to Semifinals . Wright seems to have the right attitude for t20 games . SL is bound to have a poor game in the super eight stage ( thats my feeling ) .

dummy4fb
on September 30, 2012, 7:47 GMT

Send for Prior immediately.

A_Vacant_Slip
on September 30, 2012, 7:32 GMT

Good to win - but now we have to beat SL in their home is going to be big ask. Best part - no comment from those comedy boy of the famous other country who are evidently still licking their wound after yet another thrashing reality-check. Long may that continue. Meanwhile - who is this guy impersonate Luke Wright??? Who is he and what has he done with REAL Luke Wright??? OMG what a MASTERBLASTER!!! Please can we keep him???

I have seen Steve Finn from his U 19 days and I am happy with his progress. I am sure he is going to be crucial in the retention of the Ashes next summer.It is worrisome though, to see how Anderson Broad and Bresnan have slowed down as we saw against West Indies and South Africa.I am not sure why.I hope they get back to their speed levels of the past and that Finn gets over disturbing the stumps problem. I think he is trying to be Glen McGrath too much.Even if he were to bowl from 6 inches less closer to the stumps, he will be effective.

jackthelad
on September 30, 2012, 2:55 GMT

Sorry; you practise, you learn how to bowl, you learn your run-up, there is no excuse for a bowler bumbling into the stumps. It is gamesmanship, and should be stamped out.

always_SA
on September 30, 2012, 2:47 GMT

Great performance by Wright and Finn. England have a few hard hitting batsman who can turn the match around in a couple of overs. And with Finn/Swann, they have 8 overs that won't go for too many runs. So, if things click they may be unstoppable. Only issue is with spinning wickets that has their hard hitting batsman struggling when faced with quality spinners. Spinners from NZ don't pose much of an issue. Even so, we saw a few quiet overs from Vettori. England really got going in the overs bowled by Southee and Nicol. I don't think they would have that luxury against India, SL, Pakistan. The tournament is still wide open. If England get flat wickets they are favorites as their batsman have more firepower than even Australian batsman. Wright, hales, kiewsetter, butler and bairstow can tear apart attacks on flat pitches. Australia seems to have good fast bowling that is able to keep opposition quiet. But they rely too much on Watson/Warner.

Meety
on September 30, 2012, 2:22 GMT

@JG2704 on (September 29 2012, 21:06 PM GMT) - I agree, it can't be anything other than a dead ball. I would like to see an advantage rule added, whereby an advantage goes to the batsmen. If he hits a four - that stands, if he is bowled - its a dead ball. I'd also consider repeated infringements as a no-ball (in an innings).

HawK89
on September 30, 2012, 1:10 GMT

NZ lost 7 runs from dead balls, 1 of them was a wide dead-ball. Umpires didn't give the 2 wides above head height and 1 down leg. In total, missed out 10 runs and 4 extra deliveries. Regardless of all the bad luck, England would still have won, because Taylor doesn't know how to captain. Bracewell only bowled 1 over. If you ain't going to use the frontline bowlers first, then play with 8 batsmen.

playinrain
on September 30, 2012, 0:38 GMT

Simon Taufel I thought got it way wrong with some wide calls. He is still probably the best umpire consistently though. Just got some wrong this time. The dead ball law NEEDS attention ASAP as this game highlighted, as it was farcical to see a bowler walk away with figures he didn't deserve and a game robbed of the potential it might have had with a slightly more competitive first innings total. Well batted Luke Wright though.

ifrakurshid
on September 30, 2012, 0:23 GMT

ENGLAND A BETTER TEAM DISPLAYED MUCH BETTER PERFORMANCE ALROUND THEN THE DEMORALISED NEWZELANDERS AS LADY LUCK FAVOURED SRILANKA HAVING MALINGA BOWLING 6 BALLS TO PUT BLOACKCAPS IN TENSE CIRCUSTANCES AGAINST ENGLAND THEIR FIRST COUSIN LOST AS ANTICIPATED GIVING PUNTERS SOME RELIEF TO GO AHEAD IN THE MONEY MAKING ECONOMICAL WEL PLANNED AND ORGANISED T--20 WORLD CUP UNDER RAINY SEASON WELDONE ENGLAND FOR A COMFORTABLE WIN ASAINST KIWIS.

dummy4fb
on September 30, 2012, 0:01 GMT

umpiring was embarrasing. because finn can't run straight it cost us 7 runs. plus some of the wide calls. 10-15 runs more.

seniorgators
on September 29, 2012, 23:22 GMT

@dinuhebbar The rules of the game are very simple and Taufel applied them correctly. Very simply irrespective of whether the ball is a wide or takes a wicket it is a dead ball. Correct decision by one of the two best umpires in World Cricket for the past 10 years. Technology has increased scrutiny on umpires over that same period. They dont get to see it in slow motion from 8 different angles; they need to be looking at the bowlers front foot from as much as 5 metres back from the line and then redirect their attention to a ball sometimes travelling at 150 kms per hour. The review system has highlighted another thing. Often the players are far from certain either. I can remember a series when South Africa were 2 from 10 with their referrals and that did not include ones that were out and they did not refer. Sort of dismisses in part the notion teams appeal when they know it is not out. Most of the time they are not sure. Well done Simon Taufel- you have excelled at a very tough job!

cricketlover111
on September 29, 2012, 23:15 GMT

Poor match by the black caps, not helped by some of the umpiring decisions while NZ batting and ridiculous rule in relation to the bowler hitting the wicket. If NZ had rub of the green they maybe would have had another 10-15 runs but still would have probably lost. Tactically, NZ remains behind the other teams they are playing so will continue to lose until they change the way they are doing things. The good teams aren't changing their batting order every game and playing bowlers but not bowling them!!!

landl47
on September 29, 2012, 21:33 GMT

A decent win by England, but I have to say it wasn't a great game even by T20 standards. Still, if they can beat SL and NZ can beat or have a close game with WI, England could squeak through to the semis. Anything can happen in T20!

JG2704
on September 29, 2012, 21:08 GMT

Relieved as much as anything that we at least stay in the tournament for the time being.But we still have many problems.Briggs went for runs but I'd still keep him in there.Finn and Swann held it together with the ball.Re batting I think Craig is so horribly out of nick he really is becoming a liability at the top. It was lucky we were chasing a sub 150 total otherwise his start again could have messed us up. He seems unable to just look for the easy singles until he has his eye in, It seems to be dot ball or big shot. Actually the fact we reached the target was really due to just one man. Exceptional innings from Wright who was one of our few batsmen who seemed willing to use his feet. Was also disappointed by some of our fielding , esp Buttler (I think it was) who was lax in allowing NZ to run 2s where there should only have been 1s. We need to improve hugely to be competitive vs SL but I suppose we must remember that NZ ran them so close and any team can beat the other on any g

JG2704
on September 29, 2012, 21:06 GMT

Re Finn and hitting the stumps , the umpire can't give it as a no ball unless the law changes. However I agree that it is a shame when batsmen get punished when they hit a boundary off such a delivery and it gets called a dead ball. I'm wondering if the umpires could use their discretion to decide on which ball to call a dead ball and which to allow? So if a batsman hits a boundary it stays a valid ball and if Finn gets a wicket or a dot ball they could call it a dead ball. Could they even ask the batsman on each such occasion if he wants it to be a dead ball?

JG2704
on September 29, 2012, 21:06 GMT

@Badgerofdoom on (September 29 2012, 14:11 PM GMT) Craig is an opener , but he's just totally out of nick and more than likely would be the same in a position

Juiceoftheapple
on September 29, 2012, 20:49 GMT

Well done Flower for picking Bres and Briggs. Kies is having a hard time, and it might be worth trying Lumb.

K2C1
on September 29, 2012, 19:50 GMT

well done England....stop talking about KP now !!
... now I have my two fav teams to meet up at knock stage soon !

bobmartin
on September 29, 2012, 17:53 GMT

I used to be a fan of Keiswetter, but I'm afraid he's become a liability at the top of the order... a walking wicket in fact who's place in the team seems sancrosanct no matter how badly he plays. With two other competent keeper/batsmen in the side in is it not time to replace him with a more reliable opener and let either Buttler or Bairstow keep.

BravoBravo
on September 29, 2012, 15:19 GMT

Feel bad for NZ. BB McCullum, CH Gayle, and V Shewag, they are known to play just one good game (League game) in the International tournament, and when it comes to crunch time, when it really matters, they just choke, hardly reach to double digits. It is reality, it is fact. T20 is won on the batting ability, unlike other formats of the game. Ii am pretty sure that BB McCullum has already played his inning of tournament against BD, and it will be another year till he plays another inning of substance in any format of game.

Kiwi-Jake
on September 29, 2012, 15:03 GMT

Tough match for a Black Caps supporter. Top 5 let us down, 148 was never enough on a 170 minimum pitch. Franklin's batting at least restored some supporters confidence in him as he showed he doesn't always have to be an accumulator. He also showed he had a bit of a temper in this game, he's known in NZ for being too nice! Steve Finn looks like he's becoming a very, very good bowler. I know it's not intentional, but those dead balls and the decisions to go with them were ridiculous, why doesn't every bowler just kick the stumps when they get hit for a boundary if the umpires are so inclined to rule this way? Tournament pretty much over for NZ, barring miracles, in which was a pretty disappointing last tournament outing for Mills, Vettori, Oram and possibly Nathan McCullum. IF ORAM GETS PICKED FOR ANOTHER SERIES AFTER THIS I WILL EAT MY HAT

Nehans
on September 29, 2012, 15:01 GMT

taylor is a hopeless captain, in 20 over match I don't understand team must send their best batsman to face the maximum deliveries but Taylor again came down the order, he didn't learn any thing from Pak-NZ match....when you sending guys like Williamson and Vettori at 4 its not only team is wasting deliveries but also putting too much pressure on other batsman.....very poor show from NZ

dummy4fb
on September 29, 2012, 15:00 GMT

Not sure how NZ are taking this T20... Brendon coming in at 3, still using Guptil, Nicol up front, persisting with WILLIAMSON. Taylor looks like the world is on his shoulders, dropping Oram for Bracewell...

LilAnzac
on September 29, 2012, 14:36 GMT

Good win England.. Give yourself a chance to win this thing though and for gods sake drop Kieswetter!! 4 off 14 with strike rate of 28. This wouldn't be acceptable in a one dayer let alone T20. Do Buttler and Bairstow really keep that badly? Drop him and play Patel.. Handy bowler on these decks and can handle a bat. Makes for a much stronger side. Or not, whatever I'm an Aussie anyway!! Lol

dummy4fb
on September 29, 2012, 14:29 GMT

Keiswetter needs to have a break. He's good enough to have another chance, but this is just one failure after another. England won in 2010 becasue of a string of great starts, Every side knows taking the advantage of the first 6 is vital. England won DESPITE NOT doing this AGAIN. Maybe have him down at 5. I think England should have Bell opening in this form of the game. Any side that can afford not to play Bell or Prior in 20 over games should be chock-full of great batsmen. To have neither of these even on the tour and Keiswetter failing over and over again makes no sense to me at all. Lumb for Keiswetter or swap the positions of Keiswetter and Patel.

Badgerofdoom
on September 29, 2012, 14:11 GMT

Well good win for England. Its got to be clear by now that Kieswetter is not an opener, maybe drop him to six and move Wright to open or replace him with either Bopara or Patel and let Bairstow keep.

Nutcutlet
on September 29, 2012, 14:02 GMT

This I suggest, is the Finn-stump-knock solution. When he (or any bowler) clips the stumps in his delivery, the ball should be regarded as a non-wicket-taking ball (but not a no ball, barring other transgressions). It follows that any runs/extras scored should be allowed & the ball should be counted as legitimate in all other respects. The only manner in which a batsman can be dismissed off such a delivery would be run out, as is the case with a no ball/wide. And of course, if the bails have been previously dislodged, then a run out would necessitate the removal of a stump. It's the obvious solution. Anyone pick any holes in that one? Good win by England. One or two issues ironed out. Briggs' selection a success. Morgan & Buttler batting ahead of Bairstow.That's right. Now, assuming that Keiswetter retains his place, he should drop to #6 with Wright opening with Hales. That looks much more realistic as the comp moves into its critical phase. Clear thinking & cool heads required now.

subbass
on September 29, 2012, 14:00 GMT

Good stuff from the best young quick bowler in world cricket, what a find he is. Or should I say what a Finn ? No, perhaps not.

MrZygon
on September 29, 2012, 13:58 GMT

NZ needed to realise that they probably weren't going to defend 148 and should have been looking to take wickets all the way through. Bizarre that Bracewell didn't get bowled till the 19th over.

dummy4fb
on September 29, 2012, 13:46 GMT

Why do England need Keiswetter to keep wickets, when they can use either Bairstow or Buttler? Both are young, both can keep, and both are their own boys.

skilebow
on September 29, 2012, 13:44 GMT

WickyRoy.paklover - Spinners have been used to open the bowling in T29 since the first season in 2003! Its as established as opening with your fast bowler in a test and hardly something new! I don't think you can claim that Pakistan have come up with this one

dummy4fb
on September 29, 2012, 13:42 GMT

i think it was a good win for ENGLAND one they really really needed.....but they miss KP .....he is the best player in the game who is NOT playing ...shame

pat_one_back
on September 29, 2012, 13:39 GMT

A pity the Kiwi's aimed so high, a less ambitious start would have generated 10-15 runs and 160 would have brought Vetori more into the game. England were notably respectful of him and appropriately so.

Rogerunionjack
on September 29, 2012, 13:29 GMT

Well done England, one foot in the semis. We're on track to retain our crown. NZ were inadequate today, now all the pressure will be on the hosts come Monday. One bad match against India, and all the knives were out. Guess a few folks would be eating humble pie tonight.

marteen
on September 29, 2012, 13:26 GMT

ORDINARY McCULLUM FAILED AGAIN AND SO NEW ZEALAND GOING HOME. THE WEAKEST TEAM IN SUPER EIGHT...THEY HAVE TO LEARN TO BAT AGAINST QUALITY BOWLING. ITS SO EASY TO MAKE CENTURY AGAINST ORDINARY BOWLING OF BANGLADESH BUT QUITE DIFFICULT AGAINST GOOD BOWLING TEAM LIKE ENGLAND OR AUSTRALIA...

yorkslanka
on September 29, 2012, 13:20 GMT

Congrats to England on a good win,again cemented by another good knock from wright...IMHO he is the best t20 player for England. As for Finn,I don't see why the ball can't be given as a no ball when he knocks the stumps?not fair on the batting team to lose out on runs because of his bowling error?its really annoying to watch as a viewer ...

dinuhebbar
on September 29, 2012, 13:19 GMT

Now it is clear why Simon Taufel decided to quit after this world cup..self doubts on deciding even the wides. New Zeland were deprived of valuable runs n wides with Finn being allowed to knock off bails at bowler's end by declaring them as dead balls.

playinrain
on September 29, 2012, 13:17 GMT

well batted LR, never seen him bat like that for Wellington!

GerrardLK
on September 29, 2012, 12:34 GMT

2 wides not given, that means extra 2 runs & 2 balls. And one 4 hit was not given as the umpire gave it a dead ball for bowler hitting the stumps through his action. This is a low scoring match as the pitch has become slower & lower. The poor umpiring decisions have almost cost min. 10 runs for Kiwi which could make the difference. If the match goes down to the wire then the Kiwis would be considered unlucky. Lets see.

playinrain
on September 29, 2012, 11:43 GMT

ST had a shocker!! Terrible calls on the wides! And whats with Finn;s "dead balling" ?

ST had a shocker!! Terrible calls on the wides! And whats with Finn;s "dead balling" ?

GerrardLK
on September 29, 2012, 12:34 GMT

2 wides not given, that means extra 2 runs & 2 balls. And one 4 hit was not given as the umpire gave it a dead ball for bowler hitting the stumps through his action. This is a low scoring match as the pitch has become slower & lower. The poor umpiring decisions have almost cost min. 10 runs for Kiwi which could make the difference. If the match goes down to the wire then the Kiwis would be considered unlucky. Lets see.

playinrain
on September 29, 2012, 13:17 GMT

well batted LR, never seen him bat like that for Wellington!

dinuhebbar
on September 29, 2012, 13:19 GMT

Now it is clear why Simon Taufel decided to quit after this world cup..self doubts on deciding even the wides. New Zeland were deprived of valuable runs n wides with Finn being allowed to knock off bails at bowler's end by declaring them as dead balls.

yorkslanka
on September 29, 2012, 13:20 GMT

Congrats to England on a good win,again cemented by another good knock from wright...IMHO he is the best t20 player for England. As for Finn,I don't see why the ball can't be given as a no ball when he knocks the stumps?not fair on the batting team to lose out on runs because of his bowling error?its really annoying to watch as a viewer ...

marteen
on September 29, 2012, 13:26 GMT

ORDINARY McCULLUM FAILED AGAIN AND SO NEW ZEALAND GOING HOME. THE WEAKEST TEAM IN SUPER EIGHT...THEY HAVE TO LEARN TO BAT AGAINST QUALITY BOWLING. ITS SO EASY TO MAKE CENTURY AGAINST ORDINARY BOWLING OF BANGLADESH BUT QUITE DIFFICULT AGAINST GOOD BOWLING TEAM LIKE ENGLAND OR AUSTRALIA...

Rogerunionjack
on September 29, 2012, 13:29 GMT

Well done England, one foot in the semis. We're on track to retain our crown. NZ were inadequate today, now all the pressure will be on the hosts come Monday. One bad match against India, and all the knives were out. Guess a few folks would be eating humble pie tonight.

pat_one_back
on September 29, 2012, 13:39 GMT

A pity the Kiwi's aimed so high, a less ambitious start would have generated 10-15 runs and 160 would have brought Vetori more into the game. England were notably respectful of him and appropriately so.

dummy4fb
on September 29, 2012, 13:42 GMT

i think it was a good win for ENGLAND one they really really needed.....but they miss KP .....he is the best player in the game who is NOT playing ...shame